Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings odds, picks and predictions
The Buffalo Sabres (20-23-4) make the 2nd stop on a 3-game road trip against the Los Angeles Kings (22-13-9) Wednesday. Puck drop at Crypto.com Arena is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Sabres vs. Kingsodds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Sabres suffered a 4-2 loss as -169 favorites at the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday to open up the 3-game journey through the Golden State. Buffalo has lost back-to-back games, while scoring just 3 goals total. The Under is 4-0-1 in the past 5 outings as the Sabres have allowed just 8 goals in the stretch, which included consecutive 3-0 victories.
The Kings were on the short end of a 4-3 shootout loss as huge -388 home favorites against the San Jose Sharks Monday. The Kings have dropped 3 of the past 4 games, while going 2-6-5 across the past 13 outings. That's just 9 points out of a possible 26 dating back to Dec. 28. Offense has been an issue, as L.A. has managed just 7 goals in the past 4 contests. The Under is 3-1 in that span.
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Sabres at Kings odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last update at 3:40 p.m. ET.
Sabres at Kings projected goalies
Devon Levi (8-7-2, 3.32 GAA, .889 SV%) vs. Cam Talbot (14-11-5, 2.43 GAA, .915 SV%, 2 SO)
Levi allowed 5 goals on 26 shots in a 5-2 home setback against the Seattle Kraken in his most recent showing Jan. 9. G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been on fire for the Sabres recently, pushing the 22-year-old Levi to the back burner.
Talbot was toasted for a 5 goals on just 28 shots last time out, a 5-1 loss at the Dallas Stars Jan. 16. He has coughed up 10 goals on 55 shots across the past 2 starts, while going 0-4-2 with a 3.84 GAA and .882 SV% in 6 January outings.
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Sabres at Kings picks and predictions
Prediction
Kings 5, Sabres 3
The Kings (-190) cannot be trusted as you need to risk nearly 2 times your potential return. Talbot hasn't been playing with a lot of confidence lately, and he is winless in 6 January appearances.
The Sabres (+155) have arguably played better than the Kings lately, but Buffalo will be using its backup goalie after Luukkonen just started in Anaheim Tuesday in the front end of the back-to-back. Plus, Buffalo has dropped 5 straight games when playing on no rest, losing those games by an average of 3.2 goals per game.
AVOID.
The KINGS -1.5 (+125) are worth a look, not because they've been killing it recently, but because the Sabres +1.5 (-150) are so bad on no rest.
As mentioned, Buffalo has lost the past 5 games in the second end of a back-to-back set by an average of 3.2 goals per game, with 3 of those losses coming by at least 4 goals.
The OVER 6.5 (+100) is worth playing, even though both teams have been cashing plenty of Under lately.
Again, Buffalo has lost 3 times by 4 or more goals in the past 5 tries in a back-to-back set, and Talbot has allowed 5 or more goals in each of his past 2 outings for Los Angeles.
We could be in line for a lot of fire-wagon hockey Wednesday night at Crypto.
